Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 3-27-20

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
How To Help Science Prevent The Next Coronavirus Pandemic
As the new coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads, and so- cial distancing increases, knowing what to do can be hard. But the science sur- rounding the disease is devel- oping fast, and that’s at least one reason to hope.
Despite the xenophobic reactions of the current ad- ministration, and President Donald Trump’s misstate- ments and empty promises on the topic, an inspiring global collaboration is working to produce a safe and effective vaccine for coronavirus infec- tion in record time.
Monday marked the deliv- ery of the first vaccine test, administered in Seattle.
“We all feel so helpless. This is an amazing opportu- nity for me to do something,” said Jennifer Haller in an in- terview with the Associated Press, before receiving the
A researcher of the Openlab genetic and cell technologies labo- ratory of the Kazan Federal University working with biomaterial in Kazan, Russia, on March 17, 2020. The lab specializes in research, diagnostics, and treatment of different diseases.
population have this immu- nity, it protects those who do not have the immunity from getting sick. This concept is called herd immunity. The trouble with the coronavirus is that it’s a brand-new virus. No one has encountered it be- fore, so no one’s immune sys- tem has the antibodies to fight it off.
Thankfully, we have decades of science in this area on our side, which has pro- duced a shortcut for develop- ing herd immunity: vaccines. By jumpstarting the produc- tion of antibodies to protect against diseases such as measles and the flu, vaccines save lives and prevent dis- eases from spreading. Be- tween 2010 and 2015, vaccines prevented the deaths of 10 million to 15 million people, according to the World Health Organization,
not to mention the millions more who were prevented from suffering various ill- nesses.
“Vaccines give us a way to protect ourselves individually, but they also give us a way to create a safer world,” wrote Perri Klass, a professor of pe- diatrics at New York Univer- sity, in The New York Times. “People have lost that sense of awe and gratitude for both the individual safety that vaccines represent, and also for the glorious communal project of collectively wiping out a source of pain and disability and death.”
Times like these—as the COVID-19 pandemic rages silently through country after country, with no end in sight—show us just how im- portant and necessary vacci- nations are.
first dose of the trial vaccine. Once a vaccine is ap- proved, it will not only pre- vent healthy individuals from developing the disease, but it will also protect our society at large, including those who are immune-compromised or in
other high-risk groups.
The Power of Vaccines
Usually when flu season hits, enough people have the antibodies in their immune systems—from the vaccine and previous bouts with the flu—to fight off the virus. When enough people in a
How To Keep Your Kids Healthy from page 4-A
Keep moving
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends school-age chil- dren get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day; preschoolers should be active throughout the day. Using those guidelines, Gray recommends setting up a pre- dictable daily schedule for kids of all ages, with activities such as riding bikes, practicing sports drills, tossing balls, or jumping rope.
Getting fresh air and sun- light—while maintaining six feet of distance from other peo- ple, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion’s social distancing rules— can also help improve sleep, Gray says.
If you can’t get outside, Gray suggests timing kids to run laps on the stairs, setting up an obstacle course with reg- ular household items, having a family dance party, or practic- ing kid yoga. (You’ll find lots of examples on YouTube.)
Keep eating
Though it might be tempt- ing to throw nutrition out the window during this challeng- ing time (wait ... we can’t have peanut butter for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?), Gray says it’s crucial to keep that healthy- food drumbeat going.
With most children now home all day, doctors at Chil- dren’s National suggest that kids could become more in- volved in preparing menus or even meals. This way, they’ll feel more in control about what they’re eating, which hopefully leads to healthier eating.
For picky eaters, your old standbys still apply. Young- sters may have to try a new food 20 to 30 times before they like it, according to Children’s, so offer new foods alongside fa- miliar ones, provide a small portion to start, and encourage them to just taste something new. Use food to make funny faces or shapes on plates or challenge kids to see how many colors they can eat.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5-A